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Hide your pets – this robotic mousetrap was designed to detect and exterminate everything in sightThe thought of creating a better mousetrap was particularly compelling for Easton. “We’re constantly looking for innovative ways to showcase technology, and this was a natural fit.

This shoebox-sized powerhouse would make Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor proud. Like cracking a nut with a sledgehammer, the robotic “Better Mousetrap” goes to the extreme to detect and destroy its target.

“Many people have been trying to develop a ‘better mousetrap’ for years, so we decided to build one in the literal sense,” says its developer Jake Easton.

The thought of creating a better mousetrap was particularly compelling for Easton. “We’re constantly looking for innovative ways to showcase technology, and this was a natural fit.”

Junk is an inventor’s best friend, and goes a long way to keeping project costs down.

– Jake Easton

Easton is a curious tinkerer who always has a project in the works for some much-needed diversion from the many hours he spends at his keyboard.

Over the past decade or so, Easton has accumulated a lot of what he calls “junk” to help develop his projects. “A good supply of junk is an inventor’s best friend, and goes a long way to keeping project costs down,” Easton says.

While he considers himself more of a minimalist, in this case, Easton’s superfluous design was purposefully chosen for the added “Wow” factor that it brought to the project.

“It would be difficult to beat the simplicity that James Atkinson designed into his mousetrap more than 100 years ago,” Easton said, but his admittedly overdesigned mousetrap “is a lot more fun to watch.”

And you thought this only works for rodents? The Better Mousetrap also eliminates those pesky computer mice too

To make the machine more accessible, Telovation.com produced a video showing the Better Mousetrap in action. No lengthy “Gone with the Wind” epics here. The mousetrap and unsuspecting mouse are put through their paces in just 34 seconds of fascinating video [below].

Better Mousetrap Video

The machine’s rugged design features a 0.25″ thick 6061 polished aluminum case, with a small compartment containing the mechanical and electronic systems, including solenoid valves, controllers, indicators, circuit boards, and pneumatic actuator.

Does neatness count? Easton made sure the interior compartment is as clean as the exterior is functional

Easton said the biggest challenge for the project were the dozens of hours he spent grinding, sanding, buffing, and polishing the aluminum case. “I have a newfound appreciation for those in the metal finishing business.”

While the mousetrap packs a lot of punch for its small size, it still overshadows its little brothers, measuring 12″ x 6″ x 2.5″ high and weighing in at 5.5 pounds.

The REAL Mayberry

The Andy Griffith Show is a timeless and heartwarming portrayal of American small-town life during simpler times, where traditional values were cherished, and people respected and cared for one another.

The backdrop for The Andy Griffith Show(TAGS) was the sleepy little fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina (population 1800).

Now, for the first time, we take a look behind the scenes of this small town and its residents, through countless interviews, historic film and television archives, old aerial photos of the Desilu Studio’s backlot, and closeups of subsequent shows of that era, to learn much more about this euphoric spot in television history.

While perceived to be hometown, USA, the actual location of Mayberry was not in North Carolina, but in Culver City, California – just down the street from the 1965 Los Angeles race riots. But who cares. Many still enjoy in reruns, the wholesomeness of a make-believe world that has yet to be duplicated.

As you can see, most of the Mayberry buildings are much taller than they appear on The Andy Griffith Show. Andy and the producers felt that, by keeping the camera angles low, viewers would get more of a ‘small-town feel’ rather than showing the taller buildings – such as the four-story Mayberry Hotel1 (top right).

“Forty Acres” Backlot

There is significant history to the Mayberry set. The Culver City studio opened in the early 1920’s by Thomas H. Ince – his second studio in the city.

In 1928, David Sarnoff, president of Radio Corporation of America (RCA) and Joseph P. Kennedy, merged the largest theater chain at the time, Keith-Albee-Orpheum, with Pathe Studios and the Film Booking Office of America (FBO) – a movie distribution organization acquired by Kennedy two years earlier. The new company was renamed the Radio-Keith-Orpheum Corporation, or RKO Studios.

One of RKO’s first movies, The Bird of Paradise, was filmed at this location, then the studio started building up the backlot for jungle and village scenes for what later became the location for the Tarzan and King Kong movies.

In 1935, David O. Selznick leased the backlot property from RKO to construct the city of Atlanta, a railroad station, and the Tara mansion for the $4 million blockbuster movie, Gone With The Wind.

Several of the ‘Atlanta’ buildings used in the original Gone With The Wind set (that weren’t burned down), were later used for the town of Mayberry.

In 1948, multi-millionaire tycoon and movie producer Howard Hughes acquired the studio, made a few forgettable movies, then it changed hands a few more times until 1956, when Desilu Studios purchased the studio buildings and backlot grounds then affectionately known as ‘Forty Acres.’

On this ‘Forty Acres’ wedge of property adjacent to Ballona Creek (which was actually just under 29 acres), many popular television shows were filmed.

In addition to The Andy Griffith Show – The Adventures of Superman, Ozzie and Harriet, The Green Hornet, The Untouchables, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Hogan’s Heros, Lassie, Batman, and episodes of Star Trek, were among the successful shows filmed at this location.

On Star Trek, the most-notable appearances of the forty acres lot were in the Miri episode (first airing on October 27, 1966 – season 1, episode 8) and City on the Edge of Forever (#28 originally airing on April 6, 1967). City on the Edge is a classic for The Andy Griffith Show fans where Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy end up in the early 20th century. One of the more interesting shots is where William Shatner and Joan Collins are walking down Main Street, passing in front of Floyd’s Barber Shop!

Filming of Interior Shots

While the outdoor filming was produced at Desilu Studio’s ’40 Acres’ backlot, many of the interior shots were filmed at Desilu’s Cahuenga Studios, now Ren-Mar Studios, at 846 N. Cahuenga Blvd. in Hollywood. Old Desilu production schedule reports reveal that The Andy Griffith Show reserved Desilu-Cahuenga’s Stage 1 and 2 for Thursday through Wednesday shoots (with weekends off) for each of the 249 episodes they produced.

In 1967, Desilu sold the studio buildings and backlot to Gulf & Western Industries, and later to Paramount Studios – a G&W subsidiary. All good things must eventually come to an end, however, and in 1976, the ‘Forty Acres’ backlot was bulldozed to make room for an industrial park.

Mayberry’s Fishing Hole

Myers Lake, as it was affectionately called, is shown during the opening ‘fishing hole’ credits and used in several episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. The lake used on the show is actually Franklin Canyon Lake (originally Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir), located at 2600 Franklin Canyon Drive in Beverly Hills, California.

William Mulholland began construction of the reservoirs of Franklin Canyon in 1916, where there is currently 605 acres of parkland, the three acre lake, a small duck pond, and an oak woodlands forest that remains one of the last available wilderness areas in Los Angeles.

This location has been heavily used by the television and movie industry over the past fifty years. In addition to The Andy Griffith Show, Combat, Bonanza, Star Trek, How the West Was Won, and the movie, On Golden Pond, with Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda were filmed here. The lake and park area is now managed by the National Park Service, and is open to the public.

Myers Lake was named after Frank E. Myers, the production manager for The Andy Griffith Show. His name was also used in episode 39, where Andy is forced to evict Frank Myers from his home only to find that Myers had kept an old Mayberry bond that is first believed to be worth over $300,000.

Colin Male was the uncredited, yet distinctive announcer for the show’s opening when Andy and Opie walk to Myers Lake. Male also acted in one episode, playing the game warden that caught Andy and Helen without a fishing license (episode 140, Andy and Helen Have Their Day).

Stars Made in Mayberry

Other than The Andy Griffith Show‘s (TAGS) starring roles, few television viewers were familiar with the show’s supporting cast. That, however, soon changed. In addition to Jim Nabor’s phenomenal success with Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., many famous stars today were originally noticed in the small town of “Mayberry, North Carolina.”

TV Guide Also Makes a Guest Appearance

There were a total of eight TV Guide covers for The Andy Griffith Show that were published between January 28, 1961 and July 13, 1968. Andy had 2 additional covers for Matlock, Don Knotts had one more in 1970, and Jim Nabors had 4 covers for Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C between 1965 and 1969.

As shown above, the TV Guide issues for The Andy Griffith Show included: January 28, 1961 (Andy and Ron Howard), May 12, 1962 (Don Knotts), May 11, 1963 (Andy, Don Knotts, and Ron Howard), March 21, 1964 (Andy, Don Knotts, and Jim Nabers), April 24, 1965 (Andy Griffith), June 4, 1966 (Andy Griffith with guitar), May 20, 1967 (Andy with Anita “Helen” Corsaut), and the last TV Guide was an illustration depicting Andy on the shoulders of Don Knotts and Jim Nabers for the July 13, 1968 issue.

In one episode of The Andy Griffith Show, one of their own TV Guide covers even made it on the show! On January 19, 1961, in episode #24 called “The New Doctor,” filming began at the Desilu’s Cahuenga studios. During production, a then-current copy of TV Guide (Jan 28-Feb 3, 1961 featuring Andy and Opie on the cover), can clearly be seen in the magazine rack at Walkers drugstore as Barney reaches up to repair Ellie Walkers’ doorbell.

Like most TAGS episodes, there was considerable delay between filming and actual airing. While shooting wrapped on the set of “The New Doctor” episode on January 25th – it didn’t air until March 27, 1961 – more than 8 weeks after filming was completed.

Shazaaaam! Gomer Becomes a Marine!

America’s favorite gas station attendant, quickly became America’s favorite befuddled Marine, as Jim Nabors’ career change moved him less than 10 yards from the set of Wally’s Service Station, to the set of the Camp Pendleton Marine Base – all on the Forty Acres backlot.

Jim Nabors’ character, Gomer Pyle, first appeared in Mayberry during the show’s third season on January 14, 1963 (#79 Man in a Hurry), then continued for one and a half seasons when Andy helped him move on to his own hit CBS series on May 18, 1964 (#127 Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.). Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., which ran through 1969, was also a ratings hit during its six-year run.

The Mount Airy Connection

While Griffith often dismissed any ties between his show and the sleepy little town of Mount Airy, North Carolina, even Andy can’t deny the many similarities.

For example, if you’ve wondered where the talented TAGS writers came up with the various names, it’s apparent they didn’t have to look far from Andy’s hometown. The small towns surrounding Mount Airy – where Andy Griffith was born in 1926 – were a treasure trove for many of the now-familiar characters and locations seen on the show.

Other TAGS characters were named after real people, including childhood friends, family and acquaintances such as Andy’s best buddy since grammar school – Emmitt Forrest, and former Mount Airy mayor E.T. Clark (collectively “Emmett Clark”), Jim Slate (Jim Slater), the Beasleys (Juanita, and Goober in one episode), the Roundtrees (Miss Roundtree), Earl Gilley – and to keep his in-laws happy – Andy’s then-wife Barbara ‘Edwards’ Griffith (Clara Edwards, who was in 21 episodes).

In addition to the real North Carolina cities of Charlotte, Raleigh, Bannertown, and Siler City, there were many streets that were shared between fact and tv fantasy. There’s Haymore Street (Andy and his parents, Carl and Geneva, lived at 711 Haymore), Rockford Street (where Andy’s grammar school was located), Main Street, Turner Mountain (Turner’s Grade – speed limit 35mph), Oak, Elm, Maple, Willow, Orchard, and River Road – all the rural byways of Mount Airy.

The Town With An Identity Crisis

Mount Airy, North Carolina comes from established roots in the heart of the Blue Ridge foothills. The town was incorporated in 1885, and over the next fifty years, the Surry County area was among the state’s largest producers of tobacco, furniture manufacturing, textiles, and granite.

With more than a century having passed, and all the big industries long gone, Mount Airy – population 8,484 – is now home to a few hosiery manufacturers, some scattered wineries, and a dozen small manufacturing companies. One of the town’s largest employers, NCFI, manufactures polyurethane foam insulation products – and yes – they were the foam supplier to NASA for the space shuttle fuel tanks.

To offset its weakened economy, it seems like the whole town of Mount Airy has turned to tourism as a way to fan the demand flame for ‘everything Andy.’

One notable exception to the madness, is the Snappy Lunch diner. On November 14, 1960, in the seventh show to air (episode 9 – “Andy the Matchmaker”), Barney had been walking shy seamstress, Miss Rosemary to church every Sunday. Andy decided it was time to get them together and suggested they “take in a movie, then go down to the Snappy Lunch to eat, have some coffee, and talk.”

The real life Snappy Lunch diner is Mount Airy’s oldest business whose southern heritage goes back to 1923, and a spot where Andy himself ate as a young boy. The diner’s owner, Charles Dowell, nearly fell off his couch when he saw that episode in 1960 – and business at the Snappy Lunch diner has prospered ever since.

While subsequent episodes often have Andy and Barn going to ‘the diner,’ it’s clear to Mount Airy residents that they were referring to their very own little Snappy Lunch eatery.

Epicurean note: If you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to try Snappy Lunch’s tasty cheeseburger for $1.55, or if you’re feeling particularly decadent, go all out for the mouth-watering World Famous Pork Chop sandwich for $3.50. They’re open Monday through Saturday for breakfast and lunch – and just like Wally – they don’t work on Sundays.

While continuously dismissing any ties between The Andy Griffith Show and Mount Airy for decades, on October 16, 2002, Andy Griffith publicly returned to Mount Airy for the first time in 45 years to be honored by North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley in renaming a ten mile stretch of Highway 52 to Andy Griffith Parkway.

During the dedication ceremony, Andy, then 76, said “I’m proud to be from the great state of North Carolina. I’m proud to be from Mount Airy. I think of you often, and I won’t be such a stranger from here on out.”

Then he gave the local residents what they had been hoping for, for years: Validation. “People started saying that Mayberry was based on Mount Airy,” Griffith said. Then pausing with a sly grin, he added: “It sure sounds like it, doesn’t it?”

Many people turn fifty and start planning for retirement, while others look forward to fulfilling their life’s dreams.

Whether it’s focusing on a new career – or discovering a rewarding hobby – many successful late achievers find a craft or profession they enjoy, and are often rewarded with more financial security – and much less stress.

A few people who didn’t let age stand in their way:

Harland Sanders

Kentucky Fried Chicken
Founded KFC at 62
1890 – 1980 (age 90)

Harland Sanders owned a small gasoline station in Corbin, Kentucky, where he converted a portion of his living quarters at the station to serve customers chicken dishes that he prepared in a back room. As local popularity grew for his chicken, he moved to a motel restaurant and worked as the chef.

After the construction of Interstate 75 reduced customer traffic at the restaurant, in 1952 at age 62, Sanders started franchising Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants using $105 from his first Social Security check to fund visits to potential franchisees.

You got to like your work – because it is worthwhile, that it makes a difference.

– Harland Sanders

Sanders credits his accomplishments to enjoying what he does, saying “You got to like your work. You have got to like what you are doing, you have got to be doing something worthwhile so you can like it – because it is worthwhile, that it makes a difference.”

The next several years were an overwhelming success, and Sanders sold his Kentucky Fried Chicken corporation a dozen years later in 1964 for $2 million (almost $14 million in today’s dollars). Now a division of Yum! Brands, there are more than 14,000 KFC restaurants in 80 countries.

Ray Kroc

Ray Kroc was a milkshake mixer salesman, who traveled the country looking for opportunities to sell his machines to restaurants.

While visiting one of his customers in 1954, he decided to buy what was (at the time) a small-scale McDonald’s Corporation franchise. Over the next few decades, Kroc built it into the most successful fast food operation in the world, amassing a $500 million personal fortune in the process.

If you love what you’re doing and you always put the customer first, success will be yours.

– Ray Kroc

Ray Kroc credits his success to the love he had for his business, and putting a priority on his customers, saying “If you work just for money, you’ll never make it, but if you love what you’re doing and you always put the customer first, success will be yours.”

Today, McDonald’s Corporation is the world’s largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, with 31,000 restaurants around the world, serving 47 million customers every day.

Ronald Reagan

B-List Actor to Successful Politician
California Governor at age 56
U.S. President at age 70
1911 – 2004 (age 93)

Ronald Reagan moved to Los Angeles, California in 1937, where he began a career in filmmaking and later television, making 52 films. Often described as a “B-List” actor, Reagan often joked, “the producers didn’t want them good, they wanted them Thursday.”

Reagan’s political aspirations were seen as early as 1947 when he was elected President of the Screen Actors Guild. More B-films followed until he joined the campaign of conservative presidential contender Barry Goldwater in 1964. Reagan stressed his belief in the importance of smaller government in a fundraising speech called “Time for Choosing” that helped catapult his political career and resulted in his nomination for Governor of California.

My philosophy of life is that if we make up our mind what we are going to make of our lives, then work hard toward that goal, we never lose.

– Ronald Reagan

During his political rise in troubling times, Reagan always maintained his considerable wit. Among his more notable political quotes: “It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.” And what some might consider reminiscent today, “Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets.”

Reagan also had an inspirational outlook on life: “My philosophy of life is that if we make up our mind what we are going to make of our lives, then work hard toward that goal, we never lose.”

From B-List actor to the Governor of California in 1967, 56-year-old Ronald Reagan wasted no time putting his philosophy of life to work. He was elected to two terms, then after leaving the Governor’s office in 1975, he would become the 40th President of the United States six years later at age 70.

Today, Ronald Reagan is generally regarded as one of the most popular American Presidents, with a legacy that often credits him with the peaceful end to the Cold War.

Grandma Moses

American Folk Artist
Started painting at age 78
1860 – 1961 (age 101)

Anna Mary Robertson Moses (better known as “Grandma Moses”) began painting in her seventies after abandoning a career in embroidery because of arthritis.

An art collector first discovered her paintings in a Hoosick Falls, New York drugstore window in 1938. In 1939, art dealer Otto Kallir exhibited some of her work in his Galerie Saint-Etienne in Manhattan. This brought her to the attention of collectors all over the world, and her paintings became highly sought after.

Painting’s not important. The important thing is keeping busy.

– Grandma Moses

While her paintings are what made her famous, she was also aware of what was truly important in her life: “Painting’s not important,” Grandma Moses once said, “The important thing is keeping busy.”

Grandma Moses was a prolific painter, generating over 3,600 canvasses in 3 decades. Before her fame, she would charge $2 for a small painting and $3 for a large. In November 2006, her work Sugaring Off sold at auction for $1.2 million.

Tina Turner

Professional Singer
Oldest female artist to have a #1 single at age 44
Sellout 90-venue world concert tour at age 68
1939 – (age 69)

Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock) is a singer whose career has spanned more than 50 years.

Born in Nutbush, Tennessee, Tina’s career began in 1957 at the age of 18 when she became a vocalist for Ike Turner’s band in St. Louis. Mainstream success started rolling in during the early 1960s, when she recorded the song “A Fool in Love,” reaching #2 on the charts. There were a string of hits during that decade, including “Proud Mary,” “I Want to Take You Higher,” and “River Deep, Mountain High.”

I will never give in to old age until I become old.

– Tina Turner

The 1970s ushered in a decline in popularity for Tina Turner. Add to this, Tina’s personal life and marriage began to fail, as her then-husband Ike’s drug use led to increasingly erratic and physically abusive behavior. After leaving Ike in 1976, Tina’s career stalled until she released the single “What’s Love Got to Do with It” in 1984.

At age 44, she was the oldest female artist to have a number-one single.

Tina continued to put out the hits during the eighties and nineties, including “Simply the Best,” “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” “Nutbush City” and “Twenty Four Seven.”

In 2005, Tina Turner was recognized by the Kennedy Center Honors at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. and was elected to join an elite group of entertainers.

If you are unhappy with anything … whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it.

Tina Turner

Through all of her struggles and success, Tina has remained independent – and secure about her age. In her book, I, Tina: My Life Story, she says “If you are unhappy with anything … whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you’ll find that when you’re free, your true creativity, your true self comes out.”

As far as aging, Tina considers it to be a mindset: “I will never give in to old age until I become old,” she says.

At age 68, Tina recently sold out every worldwide venue for her “Tina: 50th Anniversary Tour” (90 shows in more than 15 countries). This was her first tour in eight years, since her record-breaking “Twenty Four Seven Tour.” For those lucky enough to see it, they know Tina is still “Simply the Best.”

What Was Their Secret?

They All Found Something They Enjoyed Doing

Late achievers not only enjoy their occupation, but the life experience of a person over fifty generally equips them with much more knowledge and wisdom than a person just starting out on their career path.

Many can use that edge to develop an opportunity that not only serves a need, but also provides a lot personal enjoyment and gratification in the process.